Mechanical Backdoors in Cold War Encryption Machines

Explore the intriguing world of Cold War-era encryption machines and their hidden vulnerabilities in this 48-minute RSA Conference talk. Delve into recently declassified NSA documents that confirm long-held suspicions about deliberate weaknesses in Crypto AG's post-World War II mechanical cipher devices. Learn about the inner workings of these machines, including the Jefferson Wheel, substitution ciphers, and the infamous Enigma. Discover the fascinating history of Boris Hagelin's "pre-broken" devices and their role in Cold War espionage. Gain insights into cryptographic principles, supply-chain attacks, and the ethical implications of compromised encryption technologies. Examine the evolution of Crypto AG, from its early days to its corporate transformation, and the impact of these revelations on modern cybersecurity practices. Suitable for those with a basic understanding of cryptographic principles, this talk offers a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, history, and international intrigue.